The Sunday Independent reports that Mr Ahern has been the victim of a number of incidents in recent weeks where he has been physically or verbally threatened by members of the public.

The attacks have occurred while he was walking from his home to his local bar, Fagan's, and have seen him alter his route to the pub.

Independent Senator Ronan Mullen said that the incidents show security should be reviewed for former Taoisigh.

He said: "We must never allow public anger tip over into unacceptable behaviour. It was an exercise in shallow populism by Enda Kenny to remove it [security for former Taoisigh], but there must be other ways of finding fault."